Game apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for playing a game with a number of participants wherein the apparatus includes a number of flexible cord-like members, each member being of a different color for identifying it with a respective participant and loops at each end thereof for releasably connecting the same to a body part of a participant. Each member has beads bearing game instruction indicia thereon to indicate the play of the game wherein the participants successively make moves which cause them to become intertwined. In one form of the invention, the members are separate from each other and in a second form of the invention, the members are coupled together.

nited States Patent Foley et a]. ..273/ l @armen [451 Mar. 28, 1972 [54] GAME APPARATUS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor: William L. Carmen, 335 Alma, Palo Alto, 587 562 1933 Germany n "273 94306 376,185 1932 Great Britain ..273ll [22] Filed: Feb. 11, 1969 j C Primary Examiner-Richard Pinkham [21] Appl' 798387 Assistant Examiner-Paul E. Shapiro Attorney-Townsend and Townsend [52] HS. Cl. ..273/l R 511 int. Cl. ..A63l9/00 [571 ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search ..273/l, 108, 139; 2/321; 272/1 Apparatus f playing a game with a number of participants wherein the apparatus includes a number of flexible cord-like [56] References f members, each member being of a different color for identifying it with a respective participant and loops at each end UNITED STATES PATENTS thereof for releasably connecting the same to a body part of a 200,561 2/1878 participant. Each member has beads bearing game instruction 1,494,680 5/ 1924 indicia thereon to indicate the play of the game wherein the 2,764,414 9/1956 participants successively make rnoves which cause them to 3,498,610 3/1970 become intertwined. In one form of the invention, the membets are separate from each other and in a second form of the invention, the members are coupled together.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAR28 I972 SHEET 1 OF 2 FIG] INVENTOR. WILLIAM L CARMEN ATTORNEYS P'A'TE'NTfnmze I972 I BY WILLIAM L. CARMEN WWW ATTORNEYS GAME APPARATUS This invention relates to improvements in game apparatus and, more particularly, to apparatus for playing a game with the use of flexible, connecting members for interconnecting the participants of the game.

The present invention provides a game apparatus comprised of a number of flexible, cord-like members which are used by a number of players to play a game requiring moves by the players as they are interconnected by the members. In this way, the players become progressively intertwined with each other.

Each cord-like member is adapted to be used, during the play of the game, in a manner such that the member spans the distance between a pair of players of the game. Thus, as the body parts of the players move over, under and about the other players of the game, the players become progressively enmeshed with each other. The members remain in spanning relationship to respectiveplayers throughout the game. Each member has indicator means on it for use in providing information about the sequence of play of the game. The indicators of successive members are used to establish this play sequence and, in this way, no written instructions need be read and followed as the game is being played. Thus, the players will be able to determine when and how the next play of the game is to be made by viewing the indicator means oneach of the members.

One embodiment of the apparatus utilizes the cord-like members separate from each other and the play of the game is carried out in accordance with a code system attachedto each member, respectively. Such a code system may take the form of colored beads mounted on the members and having indicia to indicate the direction of movement of the various body parts to which the members are coupled. Another form of the invention uses a device for coupling the various cord-like members togetheras a unit and also has a code system on each member for indicating the sequence of play of the'game.

A primary object of this invention is to provide apparatus for playing a game wherein the apparatus includes a number of flexible, cord-like members adapted to be initially disposed in spanning relationship to respective players of the game so that, by successive moves by the players in specific directions, the players become enmeshed with each other while remaining coupled together.

Another object of this invention is the provision of game apparatus of the type described wherein the members have means thereon to indicate the sequence of play of the game so that the players need not follow written instructions during the game but can observe the indicator means on the members while maintaining their relative positions with each other.

A further object of this invention is to provide game apparatus of the aforesaid character wherein the apparatus includes a number of flexible, cord-like members having loops at the ends thereof for attachment to the wrists or ankles of the players so that the members will span the distance between adjacent game players and will keep the players coupled together as the game progresses yet the members will allow the body parts of the players to move freely to a limited extent so as to carry out the purpose of the game.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the following specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings for an illustration of several embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view of a cord-like member forming one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating a second embodiment of the apparatus of the invention;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are sequential views showing the way in which the game is played with the member of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 but illustrating the way in which the apparatus of the second embodiment is used.

A game-playing unit forming one embodiment of the present invention is broadly denoted by the numeral and is illustrated in FIG. 1. Unit 10 comprises a flexible, cord-like member 12 having means at each end thereof for permitting coupled relationship to a body part of a player of the game in which the unit is used. For purposes of illustration, such means includes a loop 14 at one end of cord 12 and a loop 16 at the opposite end thereof. These loops are adapted to be placed on the wrists of adjacent players of the game in the manner shown in FIG. 3. Means other than loops could be provided at the ends of the members to carry out the teachings of the invention.

While member 12 is defined as being cord-like, it can be of any suitable construction provided that it is flexible and sufficiently strong so that some stress can be placed on it without allowing it to break. Each member preferably has a distinctive color to distinguish it from the other members of the group when a game is played. Thus, each player, at the beginning of a game, chooses a color and uses the member having the chosen color.

Means is provided on each member 12 for providing a code system which provides information about the sequence of play of the game. To this end, each member 12 has a pair of elements or beads 18 and 20 slidably received thereon. Beads 18 and 20 have colors different from each other and different from the color of the member on which they are disposed. Also, one of the beads has a U printed on it while the other bead has an 0" printed on it. These letters provide indicia which tell a player associated with the beads whether to move a body part under U or over 0 a member 12 whose color is the same as the color of the bead.

While beads 18 and 20 have been provided on member 12 to indicate certain plays of the game, it is clear that other play indicators could be used, if desired.

In use, a plurality of members 12 are provided to play a game whose purpose is .to cause the players to become progressively intertwined with each other. Three or more players can play the game. Four players are shown in FIGS. 3-4 and there is a member 12 for each player, respectively.

Initially, members 12 are coupled to body parts of the players so that the members span the distance between adjacent players, the latter being positioned somewhat in a circle before the game starts. As shown in FIG. 3, the loops on members 12 are received over the wrists of the players as they face each other. The various beads on each member can be at any location along the same since they can be easily manipulated to permit viewing the indicia thereon. In this way, subsequent plays of the game can readily be determined.

One of the players is selected to start the play of the game and he or she will view the color of the first bead 18 on the member 12 to the right and also observe whether or not the bead has a U" or an O." If the bead has an O," for instance, the player will make the first play by stepping over the member 12 whose color corresponds to the bead color having the 0" on it.

The next player then makes the second play of the game and so on. The play can proceed clockwise or counterclockwise in the group of players and the players will either step over particular members 12 or will move their arms under certain members as determined by the indicia on the beads of the various members 12.

FIG. 4 illustrates the relative positions of the players after a number of plays have been made. Such plays will have followed the sequence outlined by the colors of members 12, the colors of beads 18 and 20 and the indicia U and 0" on the beads. Generally, there will be two plays per player if two beads are on each member 12. The game will be concluded after all of the plays have been made or at a time when the players are so intertwined with each other that no further play can physically be made.

When the players become so intertwined that no further play can be made, the players will first remove the loops from their wrists, following which they can then readily separate themselves from each other. The game can be played again with the players at their old positions or at different positions, whichever is desired.

The second form of the apparatus for carrying out the teachings of this invention is broadly denoted by the numeral 30 and includes a plurality of flexible, cord-like members 32 which are coupled together by means of a perforate coupling device 34 through which the cords pass. Each cord has coupling means, such as a pair of loops 36, at the ends thereof for coupled relationship with body parts of the players of the game. If loops are used, they are placed over the wrists or ankles of the players in the manner shown in FIG. 5.

Device 34 may be of any construction but, for purposes of illustration, it is hollow and is formed from plastic. It has a number of pairs of holes 38 therethrough with each pair being disposed to shiftably receive a respective member 32.

Each member preferably has a particular color to provide player-identifying means. Thus, each player will initially select a color before the game commences. To this end, each player can choose a tag of a certain color and attach the tag to his clothing for reference. While the game played with members 32 can follow any desired rules, one form of the game can be played by wrapping each member 32 around the waist of a player and then placing one loop 36 on the wrist of another player and placing the other loop on the ankle of a third player. The players to which the loops are coupled are determined by a code system carried by member 32. Such color indication is first established by the use of colored tags or other indicators which the players select before the game begins.

The code system for use in determining the play sequence for a game can be of any form but, for purposes of illustration, it includes a first indicator 37 on or adjacent to one of the loops of a member 32 and a pair of indicators 39 on or adjacent to the other loop 32. The single indicator 37 indicates that the adjacent loop is to be placed over the wrist ofa player while the pair of indicators 39 indicate that the adjacent loop is to be placed over the ankle ofa player.

To start the play of the game, the players select tags of particular colors and the play is started by any player selecting a member 32 having a color other than his own. He wraps this member around the waist of the player whose color tag matches the cord. Then the loop of that member is placed on the wrist of the player whose color tag matches the color of the indicator 37 on the member. Finally, the member is placed over the ankle of the player whose color tag matches indicators 39 of the member.

The play of the game continues as the next player follows the steps performed by the first-mentioned player. The next player is the one whose waist was last encircled by a member 32.

The play of the game is illustrated in FIG. 5 wherein two players 40 and 42 have respective members 32 about their waists. Also, several of the loops are shown on the wrists of certain players and player 40 has a loop on her ankle.

The play continues until the players are so intertwined that no further play is physically possible or until all of the cords have been placed around the players and on the proper wrists and ankles.

The game can be played with 12 cords and six players and can be played with as few as three players. At the end of the game, the cords are removed and a new game can be started. The game can be played by a group of players against the clock or against another group of players to determine who can play the game to its normal conclusion in the shortest time. Other ways of playing a game with members 32 can be devised.

I claim:

1. Game apparatus comprising: a plurality of flexible, elongated members for use in playing a game, each member having means thereon for identifying the same with a respective player of the game; means at each end of the member for permitting a releasable coupling of the same to a player of the game; and a bead shiftably mounted on the member and having a specific color, said bead having indicia thereon to provide information about the play of the game. 2. Apparatus for playing a game with a number of participants comprising: a plurality of elongated, flexible members, each member having a loop at each end thereof for permitting the member to become coupled to a body part of a participant of the game; means on each member for identifying it with a respective participant of the game; means on each member, respectively, for indicating a play of the game whereby the members can be used to play a game of the type providing successive plays by moving the body parts of the participants to which said members are coupled, said identifying means and said indicating means being observable at all times during the play of said game; and means coupling the members together.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said coupling means includes a coupling device having a plurality of pairs of holes therethrough, each member being loosely received in and extending through respective holes of the device. 

1. Game apparatus comprising: a plurality of flexible, elongated members for use in playing a game, each member having means thereon for identifying the same with a respective player of the game; means at each end of the member for permitting a releasable coupling of the same to a player of the game; and a bead shiftably mounted on the member and having a specific color, said bead having indicia thereon to provide information about the play of the game.
 2. Apparatus for playing a game with a number of participants comprising: a plurality of elongated, flexible members, each member having a loop at each end thereof for permitting the member to become coupled to a body part of a participant of the game; means on each member for identifying it with a respective participant of the game; means on each member, respectively, for indicating a play of the game whereby the members can be used to play a game of the type providing successive plays by moving the body parts of the participants to which said members are coupled, said identifying means and said indicating means being observable at all times during the play of said game; and means coupling the members together.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said coupling means includes a coupling device having a plurality of pairs of holes therethrough, each member being loosely received in and extending through respective holes of the device. 